Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-07

C0arier-Journ0i will contain Tire fol-
lowing
TO ne Editor Of tae cosrSer-.ronrndi:
Please accept my thanks for your paper con-
tanning recently published article by General
Lord Mclseley on General X. u. Leo.
Ono would reasonably suppose that an omi-
nent colder, when writing OF another OF world
wide fame, and Of military affairs, which, % no
small extent have become historical, would
Contne himself to escertainable facts instead
81 adopting the style OF n sensational novelist
and manufacturing accessories with the free
dom OF rcmancer. That such Is She character
OF General Wolseley's article | propose in
lfiof review 20 demonstrate.
We Of the South gratefully accept tho 0ulogy
which could not exceed the esteom end love
and honor 10 which we hold the mcmory OF Loe I:
tut we, who knew him best, feel that no moods
20 pedestal constructed OF the wrecks OF hts
associates reputation. Tho trde recital OF his
deeds 10 his best eulogy, and that which alone
accords with his moral worth.
Though Lee had full confidence IN the valor
and constancy OF his troops, and they implicit
ly connced In him, and though his fire.
quent attacks on the cnomy, Notwithstanding
the disparity OF numbers and the inforiority
Of his arms and equipments, show his daring
and combAtiys temper, we are indebted to
General Wolseley for the statement that whom,
in 1859, he visited Lee at the head OF proud
and victorious troops he smiled at the notion
Of defeat by any army that could be sent
against him." II may here DO we'll to recall
remembrance OF the tact that when Leo re-
ported a victory he always ascribed IL 20 tho
favor OF Providence, not 10 the invincibility
OF his army. Ia the article under review
Genera Wolseley presents himself not only a'
o military critic. but also a. a political histo-
rian; thus he writes In his first paragraph as
follows:
Lees soldiers, well versod a. all Americans
arc in The history OF their forefethers' struggle
sgainst King George I'LL, and believing
firmly in the justice Of their cause, saw tho
Same virtue In one rebellion that was 70 be
found in the other. This was point upon which,
during my eiay In Virginia, In 1852, found
every southerner laid the greatest stress"
Those who thus spoke 10 him must have
adapted their language 10 the nearer, for by
none were the resolutions OF l7qS99 more gem
orally Known and accepted as a cardinal croed
than by VirginiRns. IL was the assertion Of
continuance in the State Of sovereignty and in-
dependence which had boon won by the war Of
the rebellion against George iii. Subjects may
rebel, but in 1861 Virginia was q sovereign
State and IL Is a sollcism to speak OF the rebel
lion Of q sovereign. In q subsequent portion OF
the same article General Wolseley shows that
he had learned from General Lee the southern
doctrine, but there is an error in introducing
the adjective old TO qualify STATE. General Lee
certainly knew, az did every educated Ameri-
con, that the States were all equal az TO rights
and obligations.
After giving General Lees repugnance TO So
cession, General Wolseley writes:
ain common with all southernets he firmly
believed that each Of the cid States had an
equal and indisputable right by its individual
Constitution and by its act Of union. 10 leave at
will the great Union into which each had sepa-
rately entered as a sovereign State. This was
with him an article OF faith of which he was as
sure as or any Divine truths he found in the
Bible. This fact must always be kept In mind
by those who would rightly understand his
character or the course he pursued in 1851. He
loved the Union for which his father and family
in the previous century had fought so hard and
done so much. But he loved his own State still
more. She was the sovereign 10 whom, In the
first place. he owed allegiance, and whose or
ders, Is expressed through her legslly-consti-
tutOd Government, he was, he felt, bound in
law. In honor. and in love TO obey without
doubt or hesitation. This belief was the main
spring that kept tho Southern CO9foderacy
going, rs Il was also the cornerstone OF its
Constitution
Having learned what was the cornerstone
of the Confederacy very little reflection
might have shown him that the first part OF his
narration rs herein given was not in con-
formity 10 II, and that the war between the
States was especially different from the up
rising of the columns against their British
sovereign.
For the information OF his readers General
Wolseley communicates the fact that early
In 1861 the seven cotton States passed acts de-
Claring their withdrawal from the Union and
their establishment OF an Independent repub-
lie under the title OF The Confederate States
Of America This declaration Of independ-
ence was In reality revolution; war alone
could ever again bring ali the States together"
And again that Sin April, 1861, At Fort Sumter,
Charleston herbor, the frst shot was nrod in a
war that was only ended in April, 1885,
Further he states that Virginia In April. 1851,
formally withdrew from the Union that Gene
IEl Lee thereupOn resigned his commission in
the United States army with the intention of
retiring 10 private life, and he correctly adds:
"Ihe State of Virginia appointed him major
general and commander-in-chief of all hor
q Ter N nTFQn VlF
ton he formally accepted this position, saying
with a dignity and grace OF manner which dis
tinguished him that he did so trusting in AL
mighty God, an approving conscience. and the
aid Of my fellow cltzeus.'N
And then in disregard Of chronology and his
own statement he announces:
From the first Lee anticipated q long and
bloody struggle, although from the bombastic
olatory Of self-elected politicians as patriots
the people were led 10 believe that the whole
business would be sottl0d in few weeks. This
folly led to a serious evil-namely, the enlist
nent Of soldiers for only ninety days. Lee,
who understood war, pleaded in favor Of the
engagement being for the term OF the war, but
he pleaded in vain. To add 70 his military diff
fculties, the politician insisted upon the officers
being elected by their men This was point
which, in describing to me the constitution Of
his army, Lee most deplored."
TIE coNFEDERACY ORGANIZED.
In February. 1861. the Confcderacy was or
FaniZed. An army Ind been raised and a fort
Lad been captured before Virginia seeded.
fbe event which caused General Lee 10 leave
the United states army. He was in no c0ndi-
ton, therefore, 20 use his great influence with
regard 10 the term for which Confederate SOL
disrs should be enlisted. and the final fact Is
that there was no law for tho enlistment for
the Confederate army OF men for ninety days,
. twelve months or the expiration OF the war be-
ing the Chortest period Of service fixed by the
Provisional Government q tho Confederate
States, though volunteers were sometimes &c
\ Ia fnp rvs M
a shorter period than that required by the law.
II may 10 as well in passing TO correct the mis-
use Of the term revolution as applied to
the action Of the southern States.
They had long-esiablished governments,
having control Of all matters Of property. life,
and person from the cradle TO the grave, and
their laws and modes Of procedure remained
undisturbed by their Withdrawal from the
Union This could not have been II revolu-
ton had occurred for which sGT was the only
remedy, and this he might have learned from
the efforts Of the Peace Congress- as we'll "a
from the published proceedings OF the commits
zion sent by tho Confederate Government 10
the United States before hostilties had COM
meEced.
election Of officers by the mon they were 10
command must excite surprise among those
who knew Lee best, and also the manner la
which our army was raised. The citizens OF
TIE several States volunteered 70 defend their
homes and inherited rights. Under the laws
II
be received into tho general service by compa-
nies, La.ialions, or regiments as organized un
der state authority, and TO be formed by the
Confederate authorities into brigades, d.
visions, and corps d'GTfnfe, as occasion re-
CURED, the general officers 20 be appointed
6y the Confederate Govern ment IL is 10
be borne in mind that the troops were drawn
from the pursuits of civil life. Who so capable
10 Judge Of fitness 70 command company,
battalion, or "a regiment, as the men composing
il? The higher Of1icors might be wisely So
lected from men OF established military repu-
tafioD, or from those who in service should
manifest extraordinary ability, and the APP
pOintments Of the generals 20 command the
troops furnished by the States was conceded TO
the Confederate Government ii tho power 10
appoint the officers had been conferred upon
the general commanding an army, w0 might
have had q system preferable 10 General
Wolseley, but we should not have had tho
armies whose glory will grow brighter as their
history becomes better known.
To one possessing less than General Lees
foresight and knowledge of the northern peo-
pie. a long aud bloody struggle must have
been anticipated before they would consent 10
letthe South 60, but OF those who, relying on
the constitutional right Of State 10 withdraw
from n league IL had voluntarily entered when
IL ceased 10 answer the end for which IL was
established. nildcr terms would seem moro
Justly TO describe their expectation Of e speedy
settlement than such as "bombastic oratory Of
selI-elected politicians and patriots"
LEEs STERLING MERIT.
No more than justice Is done TO General Leo
In describing him when commander in-chlof
OF the army Of Virginia, and subsequently, In
the curly part OF his service, when general OF
the Confederacy. as working assiduOusly and